Free books to be distributed in Anderson as part of World Book Night U.S. 2012

McDowell's Emporium in Anderson is a partner in the first World Book Night in the United States. The event will take place on Monday in 6,000 towns and cities across the country.

Volunteer book lovers will help promote reading by going out and giving free copies of specially chosen and printed books to new or light readers. Though you will not be able to seek them out, you never know when one of these book-deliverers might find you. It could be anywhere from hospitals and schools to ballparks and diners.

Tens of thousands of "givers" across the country will receive a box of books from distributors like McDowell's to take out into the community, with the goal of encouraging reading among adults who may not be avid readers.

"What's better than a good book? A whole box of them, and the opportunity to share them with new readers," said Anna Quindlen, the U.S. campaign's honorary national chairwoman. "The idea behind World Book Night is inspired, and as a writer and a reader I'm thrilled to be part of it."

The books were chosen by a panel of booksellers and librarians through several rounds of voting. The printing of the free books was made possible by the generosity of the authors, publishers and book manufacturing companies.

The 30 World Book Night U.S. titles for 2012, alphabetical by author, are:

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

"Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak)

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (Ballantine)

"Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger (Da Capo)

"Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler (Beacon Press)

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card (Tor)

"Little Bee" by Chris Cleave (Simon & Schuster)

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)

"Blood Work" by Michael Connelly (Grand Central)

"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz (Riverhead); a Spanish-language edition, La breve y maravillosa vida de Óscar Wao (Vintage Espanol), will also be made available.

"Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick)

"Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers (Vintage)

"Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger (Grove Atlantic)

"A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolrick (Algonquin)

"Q is for Quarry" by Sue Grafton (Berkley)

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead)

"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving (Ballantine)

"The Stand" by Stephen King (Anchor)

"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver (Perennial)

"The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss (W.W. Norton)

"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri (Mariner)

"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien (Mariner)

"Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett (Perennial)

"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult (Atria)

"Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson (Picador)

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold (Back Bay)

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot (Broadway)

"Just Kids" by Patti Smith (Ecco)

"The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls (Scribner)

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

These special-edition paperbacks are not for resale, and the authors have agreed to give up royalties for these copies. The books have special front covers, and inside covers are printed with information about World Book Night and the sponsors and volunteers. The back cover of each book has a list of all 30 World Book Night U.S. 2012 books and authors, and the spines are labeled with World Book Night and the date.

World Book Night was launched last year by booksellers and publishers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The event is on April 23 because it is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, chosen in honor of Shakespeare and Cervantes, who both died on April 23, 1616. (It also is the anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday.)

"It makes perfect sense to me that World Book Night will take place in spring," said Kate DiCamillo, another a World Book Night U.S. author, for her book "Because of Winn-Dixie." Extending your hand to give someone a book, a story, is a gesture of hope and joy. It is a chance for all of us, givers and receivers, to break into blossom."

World Book Night in the United States is a nonprofit organization and has 501(c)3 charitable status. A full list of the World Book Night U.S. books and sponsors is at www.worldbooknight.org.